Child's dress

Physical description

Child's short dress and basque waistband of pale sea green velvet trimmed with lace and blue ribbon.
[Child's dress] The dress has a rounded neck piped with ivory ribbon and edged with Genoese lace; each of the short sleeves is cut in three deep triangular points piped with ivory ribbon and fastened (two of the points beneath a button bound in blue satin) to a puffed undersleeve of white spotted net which is edged with lace and blue satin. The bodice, lined with brown cotton twill, is trimmed with a curved line of lace-edged blue satin across the chest to give the effect of a yoke, and at the back with two sloping lines of lace-edged blue satin converging toward the waist. The skirt is lined with white book muslin and attached to the bodice in box pleats. The dress fastens at the back of the bodice with metal hooks and stitched loops, and there was originally a drawstring at the neck.
[Child's basque waistband] The basque waistband has three tabs, one at the front and two at the back, each lined with white book muslin and edged with Genoese lace, and hanging from a blue satin belt which is lined with brown cotton twill and trimmed with a blue ribbon bow at the centre front and back. The basque waistband is piped with ivory ribbon throughout, and fastens at the back with a metal hook and a stitched loop.

Place of Origin

England, Great Britain (made)

Date

ca. 1870 (made)

Materials and Techniques

Velvet, book muslin, cotton twill, ribbon, lace, satin

Dimensions

[Child's dress] Length: 45 cm centre back
[Child's basque waistband] Length: 24.5 cm max

Object history note

Gift of Mrs E M Benton (RPs 65/279)

Descriptive line

Child's dress and basque waistband of pale sea green velvet trimmed with lace and blue ribbon, made in England, ca.1870

Materials

Velvet; Satin; Lace; Ribbon; Cotton twill; Book muslin

Collection code

MoC